Celeste Rapone

Celeste Rapone (b. 1985, New Jersey) is known for narrative paintings that blur the boundaries between figuration and abstraction. Central to Rapone’s artistic practice are formal elements such as surface, pattern, and color, which inform her creative depictions of figures and settings. The subjects of her paintings, often portrayed as female, inhabit moments ranging from serene repose to energetic activity, their forms extending boldly to the edges of the canvas. Demonstrating a keen focus on the act of observation, Rapone intricately weaves together autobiographical and art historical references, transcending mere appropriation.

Having earned her BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design in 2007 and her MFA from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2013, where she currently serves as an adjunct professor in painting and drawing, Rapone’s work has garnered widespread exhibition both nationally and internationally. Her pieces have been showcased at prominent venues such as Josh Lilley in London, Corbett vs. Dempsey in Chicago, Roberts Projects in Los Angeles, Julius Caesar in Chicago, The Hyde Park Art Center in Chicago, and the Georgia Museum of Art. In 2018, Rapone was honored with a Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant. Recent solo exhibitions featuring her work have been held at Josh Lilley in London and Corbett vs. Dempsey in Chicago. Rapone currently resides and works in Chicago, IL.